Date of Award

8-2021

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Economics and Finance

Committee Chair(s)

James Feigenbaum (Committee Chair)

Committee

James Feigenbaum

Committee

John Gilbert

Committee

Sherzod Akhundjanov

Abstract

Environmental factors have been shown to correlate with COVID-19 outcomes. This study advances the literature on health economics by examining the importance of socioeconomic factors. In addition to standard economic factors, I consider the relationship between the past incidence of slavery and COVID-19 outcomes. I analyze county-level U.S. Census data and Georgia Department of Public Health county-level COVID-19 data using regression analysis. I find that the Covid-19 county vaccination rate in Georgia is related to 1860 slave concentration. No statistically significant relationship is found between 1860 slave concentration and COVID-19 death rate, case rate, or vaccination rate when health, socioeconomic, and demographic differences across counties are controlled for. The findings from this study suggest the importance of further research on slavery’s legacy for better informed policy making.

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